Young, naïve, and unaware of all the opportunities one has in front of them, high school can be four of the toughest years of a person’s life. Everyone faces different struggles while in high school, but at the end of the day most people know the feeling of disastrous teenage drama. The most judgement typical people feel throughout their lives is when they are in high school. Personally, high school was no walk in the park for me and I always felt alone or sad or scared, I always thought that would never change. There are so many things I wish I would have known throughout my tough years and below just a few are listed:

1. Those Stupid Comments Won’t Matter Soon

The way people think about you in high school won’t always matter, they didn’t even matter when you left the halls at the end of the day. Those people who said all those rude things that made you feel so terrible won’t even be a part of your life after high school. The best thing you can do when those crude stupid things are said to you is ignore them. I know it’s hard believe me, but those mean people won’t always be around forever, and reacting to their comments only gives them power. At the end of the day, those comments that hurt you so bad won’t actually matter anymore.

2. The People Who Ignored You Become Irrelevant

All those people you desperately tried to fit in with will not matter. They don’t care about you, they only care about themselves, and if they wanted to be your friend they would’ve been. All the parties, all the ‘hang-outs’ you weren’t invited to won’t matter either, you’re only going to remember the good times. The happy times where you spent time with good people doing the things you wanted to do. Just because some people don’t want to be your friends doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

3. Quality Over Quantity

This one if sort of self-explanatory. I know throughout high school I only wanted to have more friends, so I could do more things. I have come to realize that more friends are not the best thing. However, quality, good friends are amazing. Now I don’t have many friends, but I love and appreciate all that I have and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

4. Your Awkwardness Will Fade

I know that awkwardness, acne, braces, all of the little things are easy to worry about, but they go away faster than you’d think. Those little things you are trying to get rid of now will fade and you will be comfortable in your own skin. Obviously, you won’t be completely free of awkwardness, I’m still very awkward. But you learn to embrace it and you learn how to control your acne, you also get rid of those ugly braces.

5. That Stupid Thing You Did Won’t Follow You Forever

OH, how many stupid things we all do as teenagers. However, as stupid as they maybe they won’t always follow you forever. That one stupid thing that you let hold you back might deter you from better opportunities. You just have to remind yourself that you will not have to remember that forever. The new people you meet once you’re older won’t know about the stupid things you did in high school.

6. Stand Up for Yourself

This is a big one. This is also one of the hardest things people can do, I know I could never really stand up for myself in high school. I constantly let people walk all over me. I have come to the realization if you stop people and you let them know how you’re feeling your life will be so much easier. By telling the people who hurt you that they hurt you, you can change the way your whole relationship with them is like. Standing up for yourself and making sure you are okay is the most important thing you can do.

7. Mother Knows Best

Stupid I know, mom is the last person you want to give you advice. However, she really does know what’s best for you, and if you listened once in a while you would understand that she knows what she is talking about. I know that taking advice from your mom isn’t easy, but I know that if I had listened to my mom more I would’ve had a much easier time in high school. Mother really does know best.

8. Take Advantage of Most Opportunities Handed to You

Throughout high school you are given the opportunity to do many things, but not everyone wants to do those things. I’m telling you, you should try your best to do as many things as you possibly can. It will help you make more friends, but also help you keep busy and focus on bigger and better things in your life then just Netflix.

9. The Ones Who Matter Stay

Everyone needs to remember this throughout their lives. If someone truly cares about you they will stick by you no matter what. However, if they don’t, don’t be upset, just know that the few who did are the ones who will stick by you forever. Those people are the ones you should trust and love because they won’t leave when things get hard. They won’t think you’re crazy if something happens are you get sad. They will love you no matter what, and they are the only people you actually need to stay in your life.

10. Do Everything That Makes YOU Happy

YOU are the most important person to you when you’re a teen. As long as you're happy your life should go well. Do anything and everything you possibly can that makes you happy. Go on that trip, take that job, see that person, do it all. Try to remind yourself that whatever anyone thinks of you doesn’t matter as long as you are happy. Your happiness should be most important to you, and if people are going to judge you for being happy than maybe they shouldn’t be in your life after all.